Be sure to include your name, daytime phone number, address, name and phone number of legal next-of-kin, method of payment, and the name of the funeral home/crematory to contact for verification of death.

Modesto boy can’t solve ‘quandary,’ places 2nd at state spelling bee

In front of an audience of hundreds, 9-year-old Michael Balerite of Modesto persevered through nine rounds of the California State Elementary Spelling Bee.

“Lieutenant.” Aced it.

“Bourgeois.” Tough, but he nailed it.

“Megalomaniac.” Done.

By the time he hit “quandary,” the fourth-grader from Aspire University Charter and a sixth-grader from Fremont were the only ones left on the stage, said mom Marilou Balerite.

But quandary, true to its word, left him struggling. Then Christina Yu, 12, successfully spelled “hyperbole,” proclaiming her the very best young speller in California for 2014.

Michael and Christina were among 56 fourth- through sixth-grade champions from 28 counties to compete at the San Joaquin County Office of Education in Stockton on April 26. More than 300 people gathered to watch the nail-biter of a competition.

Also competing were sixth-graders Martin Shewfelt from Agnes Baptist Elementary in Modesto and Patrick Caldwell from Ripon Elementary. Merced County sent sixth-grader Carlos Magana and fifth-grader Jasmine Judge.

The state contest, sponsored by Grand Canyon University, sent all participants home with an iPod shuffle in a spelling bee backpack. Christina earned an iPad. Michael and six other top finalists received trophies.

Editor's Choice Videos

Join the Discussion

The Modesto Bee is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere on the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.